Are there any diabetics out there that could give a newbie some advice? I want to keep my blood glucose level stable without risking a hypo-glycemic attack. Some advice I have seen (not necessarily for diabetics) include; adding fruit juice to water 50/50 in a camelbak, eating a Powerbar at some point, and taking a blood glucose test at some point. The first strikes me as messy and potentially harmful to the camelbak. The second has some appeal, while the third does not.

I'm also a diabetic but have never had a problem riding. I'm type 2 but don't know if things would be different for a type 1. I carry water without fruit juice or sport drink. In case of a hypoglycemic problem I do carry a tube of glucose tablets which would provide a quick boost were I to need it. I've never needed it but it's reassuring to have. It's probably a good idea to run things by your doctor for guidence.

To change the subject slightly, you should carry something indicating your condition so if there's a problem you are protected.

Good luck.

I'm a type 2 diabetic and what I do when I am riding (or running) is make sure that I carry ClifShot Bloks or ClifShot gels along with me and take either 3 bloks or 1 gel every hour. This works well for me.

I also carry either regular water or Gookinaid Hydralyte, depending on how far I am going or how long I am going to be out.

I don't check my BGs as often as I did when I was first diagnosed and I am fortunate that I can sense when my blood sugar is getting low.

Not a diabetic of any type but had a friend who was. A doctor, he carried an insulin injection widget with him that could shoot a dose of insulin thru his skin. Kind of like an air gun. He used it a couple of times during BCI club rides.

Way off topic remembering him reminded me of a story he told. A young 10~12 year old girl died strangely and as a pathologist at UCI he got the case. Fond she had died of a massive hepatitis infection. Big puzzle as kids that age rarely get exposed. A family member mentioned that she had been badly hurt a month earlier in one of those mass rides over in Mexico. He went down, found the staff in the Mexican hospital that had worked on her, and asked if she had gotten a transfusion. Yes. Had they screened the blood? Oh Yes, she got the right blood type. Had they screened the blood supply of infectious diseases? Oh no, we don't do that. Case solved. My friend still went on those Tecate to Ensenada type rides but only if they had American medevac helicopters along the route with clearance to blow across the international border to a San Diego hospital.

I have been taking insulin for over 50 yrs. I mix about 25% apple or grape juice in my water. I tend to get my blood glucose level dropping after riding as the muscles recover their glycogen levels, so I dont check my blood sugar while I am riding, but keep a closer watch on it in the 24 hrs after. Everybody's metabolism works at different rates so by doing frequent blood testing at first, you will be able to predict what your needs will be for your level and duration of exertion

I wear a medic alert bracelet and a diabetic tag on the lanyard around my neck. I would like to get a shirt that says "Running On Insulin."

Today, after my 7-8 mile commute, my BG was 291. I was 155 when I got up. I had a banana before getting on the saddle. I waited until I got to the office to take my oral meds. I drank plain water on the ride.

In your opinion, is it better to take the oral meds before the ride?

Regards,

deaconman

I strongly urge that you make adjustments in accordinace with sound medical advice and not the opinions of members of this forum, even those like me, who are diabetic.

If my BG was 291 after 7 or 8 miles of cycling, I'd visit the doctor right then. If it was 155 at awakening, I would not have eaten a banana. I'm a Type II. If you are "running on insulin" I suppose you are perhaps a Type I. I suppose tolerable BG levels may differ between the two, as I have Type I friends who seem to run higher levels than I, though I don't know if their doctors or nutritionists think higher levels are OK.

Seriously, take your last post to your doctor and ask for competent medical advice. The potential complications of Diabetes; blindness, amputation, etc., could make riding your bike more difficult in the long range future.